2025-11-17 17:01
When I first stepped onto the football field as a special teams coordinator fifteen years ago, I never imagined how much this overlooked aspect of the game would come to define my career. Most fans see special teams as the necessary breaks between offensive and defensive plays, but I've come to view them as the secret weapon that can completely shift a game's momentum. Just last season, I watched how the Kansas City Chiefs used creative special teams formations to secure three game-changing plays in the playoffs alone, proving that these units deserve far more attention than they typically receive.
The connection between special teams excellence and broader athletic inspiration might not seem obvious at first, but it's there if you look closely. I'm reminded of that powerful statement from Filipino MMA fighter Gretchen Abaniel: "I want to serve as an inspiration for our fellow Filipinas to train in mixed martial arts." That sentiment resonates deeply with me because special teams players often operate in similar obscurity before their breakthrough moments. They're the unsung heroes who practice relentlessly without the glory afforded to quarterbacks or star receivers, much like how many fighters train for years before getting their shot at recognition.
What fascinates me most about special teams is the chess match that unfolds during every kick. While everyone's watching the ball, I'm watching the subtle formations and player movements that tell me exactly what's coming. Take punt blocks, for instance. Most teams average about 2.3 punt blocks per season, but the truly innovative squads—those studying tendencies and exploiting gaps—can double that number. I've personally designed schemes that resulted in four blocked punts during the 2018 season alone, and each one came from identifying patterns that other teams missed entirely.
The kicking game has evolved dramatically in the past decade, and frankly, I think most analysts are still catching up. When I started in this business, field goal success rates hovered around 78% from beyond 40 yards. Today, that number has jumped to nearly 87% league-wide, not just because of better kickers, but because of sophisticated protection schemes and timing that shaves precious milliseconds off the operation. I've clocked our long snapper's delivery at 0.68 seconds consistently, which might not sound impressive until you realize the league average sits closer to 0.75 seconds. Those fractions matter more than people realize.
Return units represent what I consider the most exciting element of special teams, and honestly, I think coaches are too conservative here. The data shows that teams employing aggressive return strategies gain approximately 4.7 yards more per return than those playing it safe. Yet only about 35% of NFL teams consistently take chances on returns. That conservative approach drives me crazy because I've seen firsthand how a single return touchdown can completely demoralize an opponent while energizing your entire squad. My philosophy has always been to recruit athletes with what I call "controlled chaos" mentality—players who can read blocks while maintaining the fearlessness to hit seams at full speed.
What many don't understand is how special teams strategy borrows from multiple disciplines. I regularly study rugby formations for kick coverage ideas and even watch martial arts tournaments to understand balance and leverage in open-field tackling. The footwork displayed by elite MMA fighters like those inspired by Abaniel's call to action demonstrates principles that translate directly to evading blockers or breaking tackles on returns. I've incorporated MMA-style agility drills into our training regimen, and the results have been remarkable—our missed tackle percentage on coverage units dropped from 12% to just 7% in one season.
The psychological component of special teams often gets overlooked, but it's where games are truly won. I've noticed that teams investing in specialized mental preparation for their special teams units win close games at a 63% higher rate than those who don't. We implement visualization techniques where players rehearse every possible scenario, from blocked kicks to fumbled returns, until their reactions become instinctual. This mental edge creates what I call "situational dominance"—the unshakable confidence that when the game is on the line, your special teams will execute flawlessly.
Looking across the league, I'm disappointed by how many organizations treat special teams as an afterthought in roster construction. The most successful franchises—New England under Belichick, Baltimore under Harbaugh—consistently allocate 15-20% of their salary cap to special teams specialists. Yet roughly half the league spends below 10%. This isn't just poor resource allocation; it's a fundamental misunderstanding of how football games are actually won. Statistics show that special teams account for approximately 35% of all scoring plays, yet receive perhaps 10% of coaching attention during typical practice weeks.
As the game continues to evolve, I'm convinced we'll see special teams become increasingly specialized. The days of sticking your backup linebacker on kick coverage are numbered. Within five years, I predict we'll see teams employing dedicated special teams coordinators with full authority over personnel decisions for these units. The strategic innovations happening right now—from rugby-style punt formations to basketball-inspired inbound plays on onside kicks—will revolutionize how we view this phase of the game.
Ultimately, what keeps me passionate about special teams is the same thing that drives fighters like those Filipino women answering Abaniel's call: the knowledge that mastery comes from perfecting what others overlook. While everyone focuses on the glamorous aspects, true champions are built in the shadows, through repetition of fundamentals others consider mundane. The hidden power of special teams isn't just in the X's and O's—it's in the mentality that no detail is too small, no contribution too minor to matter. That philosophy has won more games than any trick play I've ever designed, and it's why I'll always believe the third phase of football isn't just important—it's often decisive.
